The most significant topic was the proposed cost of living adjustment for city employees. There were discussions about increasing merit raises for non-bargaining employees to between 5% and 7%. The police union had already accepted a 7.5% COLA, which was negotiated separately and not up for a vote during this meeting. However, this adjustment still needs to be formally approved by the council in a separate session. The council also considered other budget adjustments, such as reductions in the Mayor’s and City Manager’s office budgets, and the feasibility of adding a grant writer position.

Despite the urgency to finalize these decisions, the meeting highlighted logistical issues due to absenteeism. One council member was confirmed to be out of the country and planned to participate virtually. This absenteeism led to delays in reaching a consensus on budget revisions. The Mayor expressed disappointment that the necessary adjustments were not agreed upon, emphasizing the importance of responsible decision-making given the $137 million budget’s impact on residents and business owners.

Further complicating matters was the need to finalize the budget by October 1, as mandated by statute. The council discussed the possibility of tabling the items to a future date if a consensus could not be reached, with the understanding that failure to pass the budget by the deadline could have serious repercussions for the city.